Gerald Ryan’s classy filly Melito finally put an end to her frustrating succession of minor placings this winter with a powerful win in the final Group 1 feature of the 2009/10 Australian racing season, the $500,000 Winter Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Melito went out as the $3.70 favourite and was impressive as jockey Corey Brown worked her hard to overcome a wide barrier 12 draw and press through to take the lead. Throughout the early stages of the race Culminate and Gold Water were sitting beside Melito across the field, but she charged to the front at the 300m.

The three-year-old Redoute’s Choice filly then held off a late challenge by Kiwi mare Wealth Princess ($7.50) and went on to win by three quarters of a length, with Peter Snowden’s Beaded ($4) a further two lengths away in third.

Runner up Wealth Princess trained by Brent Gillovic in Halmilton, New Zealand, will next head to the stables of Lee Freedman to prepare for a 2010 Melbourne Cup Carnival campaign this spring.

Coming off a gallant second to Black Piranha last start in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m), Melito has now won four of her 18 career starts for $1,577,150 in prizemoney including her other elite level victory in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) back in April at Randwick.

Her super consistent season full of consecutive placings in the nation’s best races has Melito in the running for the 2009/10 Filly of the Year.

Other feature Eagle Farm Races conducted on Saturday included the Group 3 Tattersall’s Cup (2200m) won by half-sister to Melito, Paul Messara’s Redoute’s Choice filly Mirrasalo; and the Group 3 WJ Healy Stakes (1200m) where warm favourite, Statue Of Liberty gelding Hay List secured victory.

Group racing takes a break throughout the bulk of July, until Saturday the 31^st when the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) takes place at Caulfield. There are still plenty of excellent Listed race taking place across the country over the next few weeks, so make sure you check out the odds at [iasbet]!

2010 Winter Stakes Results